Judge overturns Saints suspensions

Player suspensions from the NFL investigation into bounty-related rule violations by New Orleans Saints players have been overturned by a three-member panel, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

Word of the overturned suspensions emerged on Twitter Friday afternoon from Sports Illustrated reporter Jim Trotter. Once Trotter said that the suspensions will be overturned, suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma reacted with a "Victory is Mine" tweet that sent the social media site into a frenzy.

Vilma was scheduled to be suspended for the entire year for violations of the NFL bounty policy. Saints defensive lineman Will Smith was scheduled for a four-game suspension, while former Saint and current Brown linebacker Scott Fujita and former Saint and current Packer defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove were due to miss eight games each.

Reaction to the ruling from the NFL had not emerged by Friday afternoon, and word from the Saints on what, if any, role Vilma or Smith will have in this weekends game against the Redskins has not been reported.